See it before it disappears...

I lament the fact that I didn't get to China in time to see the last of steam... or Cuba for that matter. But I have been fortunate to have ridden cabooses, visited active towers complete with armstrong levers, watch telegraph being used, etc. A recent article in Trains about Iowa Traction got me thinking: what other anachronic industry operations/equipment are still out there, soon to be pushed aside by time and economic realities?

Towers and smalltown depots are disappearing FAST!

Conductors and engineers are the first that come to mind! Torpedoes (used in flagging) are already gone. Lots of the hand throw switches are being replaced by electronic ones.